By the time you feel it, it's too late. Osteoporosis has no symptoms until a bone breaks. A DEXA scan is the only way to know your bone density. But this quiz identifies whether your risk factors warrant screening — and what you can do NOW to strengthen your bones, regardless of your current density.
Assess Your Bone Health Risk
👤 What is your sex and age?
🦴 Have you ever broken a bone after age 50?
👨👩👦 Did a parent break a hip?
💊 Have you taken corticosteroids (prednisone) for 3+ months?
📏 Have you lost 1.5+ inches in height?
⚖️ What is your body weight?
🏋️ Do you do weight-bearing or resistance exercise?
🥛 Do you get enough calcium and Vitamin D?
🚬 Do you smoke or drink heavily?
📋 Have you ever had a DEXA bone density scan?
Your bone health breakdown
Your bone protection plan
Understanding bone health after 60
Bones are living tissue that constantly breaks down and rebuilds. After age 30, breakdown begins to outpace rebuilding. For women, menopause accelerates this dramatically — bone loss can reach 2-3% per year in the first 5-7 years post-menopause. By age 70, many seniors have lost 30-40% of their peak bone mass. The result: bones that shatter from forces that younger bones would easily withstand.
The fracture that changes everything
A hip fracture is often the beginning of a devastating cascade. Within one year of a hip fracture: 20% of seniors die, 50% never regain their previous level of function, and 25% require long-term nursing home care. Vertebral compression fractures cause chronic pain, height loss, and stooped posture. Wrist fractures signal that bone density is already compromised. Every fracture after 50 should trigger a conversation about osteoporosis screening.
Sources: FRAX Fracture Risk Assessment Tool, University of Sheffield. US Preventive Services Task Force Osteoporosis Screening Recommendations, 2023. National Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines.
The DEXA scan — the only way to know
A DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan measures bone mineral density at the hip and spine. It takes 10-15 minutes, is painless, and uses very low radiation. Results are reported as a T-score: above -1 is normal, -1 to -2.5 is osteopenia (mild loss), below -2.5 is osteoporosis. Medicare covers DEXA scans for women 65+, men 70+, and younger adults with risk factors — every 2 years.
Fall prevention + bone protection = fracture prevention
Fractures require two things: weak bones AND a fall. Addressing both is far more effective than addressing either alone. If your bone density is low, preventing falls becomes critical. If you're prone to falls, strengthening bones becomes urgent. These two tools work together.
Related: Fall Risk Assessment → | Muscle Loss Quiz →
Supplements that support bone health
Calcium Citrate (600mg 2x daily with meals — citrate form best absorbed in seniors), Vitamin D3+K2 (D3 2000-4000 IU helps absorb calcium, K2 100-200mcg directs it to bones not arteries), Magnesium Glycinate (400mg — required for calcium utilization), Collagen peptides (10g daily — supports bone matrix structure), and Vitamin C (supports collagen formation). Weight-bearing exercise is equally essential.
See our guide: Joint & bone supplements for seniors →
Frequently Asked Questions
Medical Disclaimer
This quiz identifies osteoporosis risk factors — it is NOT a bone density measurement. Only a DEXA scan can diagnose osteoporosis or osteopenia. If your score suggests elevated risk, discuss DEXA screening with your doctor. Never start or stop osteoporosis medications without medical guidance.